All posts by Chris

Study Detects Recent Instance of Human Evolution

Anthropology, Culture, Science

From the New York Times:

A surprisingly recent instance of human evolution has been detected among the peoples of East Africa. It is the ability to digest milk in adulthood, conferred by genetic changes that occurred as recently as 3,000 years ago, a team of geneticists has found.

The finding is a striking example of a cultural practice — the raising of dairy cattle — feeding back into the human genome. It also seems to be one of the first instances of convergent human evolution to be documented at the genetic level. Convergent evolution refers to two or more populations acquiring the same trait independently.

nanowrimo day 30 – winner!

Books, NaNoWriMo, Writing

Whew!  Just under the wire, too.  The final word of the final chapter was written on the final day, and that word was “mage.”  It’s not as breathtaking as “scar,” perhaps, but I’ll take it.

Unfortunately for Patrick, the space monkeys didn’t make another appearance.  Perhaps they can be added in when the book is being edited.

Chris Won NaNoWriMo!

apparently “peace on earth” is right out

Holiday! Celebrate!, Oddly Enough, Religion, You have got to be kidding

I’m trying really hard, but I don’t have a response to this:

A homeowners association in southwestern Colorado has threatened to fine a resident $25 a day until she removes a Christmas wreath with a peace sign that some say is an anti-Iraq war protest or a symbol of Satan.

There’s more info (but no more clarity) at the Yahoo News article. I see that it’s all about the HOA exercising their power, but WTF?

UPDATE, via Wil Wheaton dot Net: It looks like HOA board has apologized and “called the incident a misunderstanding.”  Uh-huh.  I hope the misunderstander gets punished appropriately.

nanowrimo day 26 – the home stretch

Books, NaNoWriMo, Writing

I just finished Chapter 12, which means there are only 4 to go, about 6000 words.  I’m on track to finish this just in time, assuming there’s no blatant falling down between now and Thursday night.  I may not blog between now and then, because it’s been hard to think of anything but finishing.  Yesterday I wrote 3500 words just to catch up after a couple of days of slacking, and let me tell you that was some tense writing.

So, here we go.  Wish me luck, and I’ll see you again on December 1st, with my winner’s badge or on it.  (Okay, it’s a horrible metaphor.  I’m getting used to crap writing.)

NaNoWriMo day 26, 43,924 words

it’s time for this war to end

Community & Activism, Government, Iraq, Politics, To Help

I was originally going to write another post about the cost of the ongoing occupation of Iraq, but two people far more important than I am have written things you should read instead.

First, bask in the calm brilliance that is Keith Olbermann’s response to the president’s recent comments on Vietnam.   If you didn’t catch it, Mr. Bush went to Vietnam and told the American public the lesson he thinks he’s learned from that long, bloody mess: “We’ll succeed unless we quit.”  (No, I’m not making this up.)

Second, take part in what might prove to be the antidote to such bloody-minded idiocy.  Senator Barbara Boxer has created an online petition calling for the president to begin redeploying U.S. troops out of Iraq now.  (Emphasis hers.)  I usually advise against Internet petitions because they don’t have any teeth, but this one is different.  It’s being sponsored by an official representative with some real power (especially now), so it has at least some chance of being heard.  There’s more information in her press release about the petition, which makes some compelling arguments itself.

So read Keith to get fired up, then go do something about it.